We regret to announce that all operations on the Arborway TT & Northwestern Railroad are suspended until further notice. The Woods family, owner of Woodsvalley Farm in Crawford County, Missouri, have made the difficult decision to sell the 2000-acre farm, home of the ATT&NW.

Following the 2008 death of John R. Woods, Judy and the family have continued to maintain the property as a private hunting and fishing preserve, and have maintained the ATT&NW allowing "Friends of the Railroad" almost unlimited access and operation of the railroad, for friends, family, neighbors and worthy organizations.

Additionally, the leadership of Railroad Superintendent Alex Beams has made the ATT&NW the "gold standard" among miniature railroads in North America. Alex has been generous with sharing his expertise to the world of operating steam railways and will continue to do so on a professional basis.

The "Friends of the Railroad" have become a close-knit, diverse fraternity of railroad fans, young and old, willing to volunteer countless hours maintaining and operating the ATT&NW to an exceptionally high standard. No other miniature railroad can boast of a fully-functioning ABS and CTC signal system, thanks to the genius of Zachary Gillihan and crew. Two members of the "Friends" met their future wives on the railroad, and three weddings have been held along the tracks of the ATT&NW. Boy Scouts, school kids and a "Make A Wish" participant have "had their days" on the ATT&NW. This was exactly what John Woods had in mind when he started building the ATT&NW more than a dozen years ago.

Since John's passing, the operation and enjoyment of this special railroad has been subsidized by the unquestioned generosity of Judy Woods, to whom all of us owe a debt of gratitude. Now, as the interests of the extended Woods family turn elsewhere, it is time to find a buyer for this unique property.

Ideally, Judy and the family would like to make a deal with a buyer interested in keeping the railroad intact. For that and other reasons, it was decided to close the railroad, secure the rolling stock and property, and put the entire Woodsvalley Farm up for sale. This is expected to be a time-consuming and wide-ranging process, and we will keep the Friends of the Railroad informed, and hopefully, with good news to share sometime in the future.

Until then, please savor the good times we had on the ATT&NW through the many pictures and videos shared on-line and elsewhere. Remember the words of Dr. Seuss: "Donít cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."